Music/ Worship Resume

OBJECTIVE To lead the Worship Ministry and serve as a Senior Ministry Leader in a church that is committed to creatively engaging its community with the truth of God’s Word and growing its members to maturity in Christ.

EXPERIENCE 20+ years in Ministry with a focus on Worship Leadership & Administration and Discipleship

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Degreed professional with experience in a variety of ministry contexts

• Passionate about leading and teaching individuals and churches to worship with authenticity, substance, and excellence

• Mature yet growing believer with an eagerness to join God on the next stage of the journey

• Team player with a thorough understanding of senior ministry leadership

• Trained in three models of evangelism ministry, including Evangelism Explosion

EDUCATION

Luther Rice Seminary – Lithonia, GA
Doctor of Ministry, Doctoral Project - 30 Days of Worship, 2007

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary – New Orleans, LA
Master of Religious Education, 1987

Southeastern Louisiana University – Hammond, LA
Bachelor of Music Education, 1985

PERSONAL

• Dominant spiritual gifts - exhortation and administration

• Married to Angie Nielsen, who has a Master of Social Work degree and is a gifted counselor
• Three children - Victoria (13), Madeline (9), and Andrew (2), our surprise!

MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

Park Place Baptist Church – Pearl, MS 2002 – Present
Minister of Music & Worship
Provide leadership to the Worship Ministry of a church averaging 800-850 in multiple worship services. Serve as a member of the senior ministry staff assisting the Pastor with the overall ministry of the church. Assume direct oversight and supervision for the Worship and Media Ministry and staff.
• Transitioned choir to a worship-leading choir (from a performance-based choir)
• Wrote various songs and arranged hymns in modern relevant styles for worship
• Transitioned use of hymns in worship from a traditional to a modern style
• Created praise team ministry (praise teams now sing in each service)
• Implemented a church orchestra, which plays in each worship service
• Created Living Christmas Tree ministry (now in its 5th year) as an area outreach
• Created and manage the position Associate Minister of Music for Orchestra
• Transitioned Kidz Choir from performance based to a worship leading children’s choir.
• Worship Leader for 2003 Mississippi Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference

First Baptist Church – Richland, MS 1998 – 2002
Minister of Music & Worship
Served as the Worship Minister for a church averaging 700-750 in worship. Provided direct oversight to all facets of the Worship Ministry and served as member of the senior ministry team.
• Implemented a church orchestra
• Created and managed Music Assistant for Orchestra position
• Produced and directed Beyond Our Walls album project for adult choir
• Directed and managed Paid In Full Easter drama as a metro-area outreach

First Baptist Church – Kentwood, LA 1994 - 1998
Associate Pastor for Worship & Discipleship
Assumed direct responsibility for the Worship and Discipleship ministries in a church averaging 350-400 in worship. Strategically transitioned the church to a more contemporary model of worship by implementing praise teams, praise bands, banner ministries, and various ensembles. Trained worship leadership to lead children’s choirs.
• Directed a summer children’s music camp
• Directed annual Easter drama area wide outreach
• Produced and Directed Sounds of Praise ensemble album project

Bethel Baptist Church – Moody, AL 1989-1994
Minister of Music & Worship
Led the Worship Ministry of a church averaging 500-600 in worship. Served as a member of the senior staff. Assisted with the Youth Ministry by writing/compiling student discipleship books, leading youth choir and mission trips, and implementing new student evangelistic outreach events for a growing Youth Ministry.
• Created Living Flag musical area-wide outreach

First Baptist Church – New Iberia, LA 1987-1989
Associate Pastor & Minister of Music
Served as the Associate Pastor & Minister of Music at a church while attending seminary. Assisted the Pastor with the overall ministry of the church, including preaching, discipleship, and visitation ministries.
• Implemented an annual Christmas pageant
• Transitioned congregation from a traditional style to praise & worship

MINISTRY PHILOSOPHY

We are blessed to live in exciting times of ministry. Countless ministry opportunities surround us everyday! Therefore, the local church cannot afford to conduct business as usual, with the same old methods, etc. Local church ministry must stay fresh, relevant, innovative, and, above all, rooted in the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of this, the local church body must always stay true to God’s Word. Methods and approaches may vary through the years, but God’s Word never changes. Therefore, ministry must first and foremost honor God’s Word.

Worship plays an integral role in the life of the church and the believer. While there is great flexibility in terms of style of worship, personal and corporate worship must be authentic and substantive. My heart as a worship leader is to teach and model for others how to encounter God in authentic and substantive ways. God also deserves our best. Therefore, every facet of a worship ministry should be conducted not only with authenticity and substance but also with excellence. One of the great joys of serving as a Worship Minister is growing together with the worship leadership as we encourage one another to live authentic and substantive lives of worship and to offer up to God excellence in all we do.

I have had the privilege of serving as a Worship Leader since the age of nineteen (19). At times, that service has included the role of associate pastor, student minister, and minister of discipleship. The journey God has laid out for me has led to historically traditional churches in terms of worship style. Each stage of the journey has been an invaluable experience in which God has allowed me to encounter Him and to grow as a worship leader. At each position of service, God has afforded the opportunity to teach the church about worship and to strategically transition them towards new models and new methods of worship.

Currently, God is strategically leading me to be available for new ventures. As the members of each church I have served have been asked to embrace new songs, styles, and methods of worship, I believe God is strategically leading me to embrace a new venue and model for ministry. I am excited about the next stage of the journey and what God is going to do in my life and in the life of the church and people with whom I am blessed to serve.

References and DVD Available Upon Request